Senior News Page, Ms. Senior America

Senior America's News Section

This Section Presents News Articles from a variety of sources.

This months first subject: Grandparenting

SHARING YOUR HISTORY…….

Writing your family history can be a fulfilling experience, allowing you to share your traditions, experiences and life story with your grandchildren. As you reflect on your life, however, you may find that getting started is over-whelming. Consider these ideas for making it manageable, fun and rewarding.

1. FOCUS. Start by writing an outline of the significant events in your life.

2. FILE. Create folders for the different stages of your life, such as “childhood” or “military.” Then put notes, photos and other memorabilia into the appropriate folders. Your job will be easier when broken down into these manageable “chapters.”

3. TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE. Think about what you‘ve done, whom you’ve met and where you’ve traveled. Jot down a few words or phrases about each memory on a note card and put it into the appropriate file to help you remember later.

4. DON’T LIMIT YOUR LEGACY TO THE PAST. Record your thoughts about the future and what values you’d like to see carried on. Include favorite hobbies, recipes and family traditions.

5. WRITE LIKE YOU TALK. Use relax, easy-to-understand language.

6. ILLUSTRATE YOUR HISTORY. Include photographs, (both old and recent), newspaper clippings, souvenirs, old letters, and military medals or uniforms. Write captions, explaning the significance of each addition to your history.

Writing down your history isn’t the only way to share it with your grandchildren. Make a videotape or audiotape, send an e-mail or just spend time telling your loved ones about your life.

Source: Boeing wellness health letter July 2005 issue
Compiled by: Sonia Reinhardt Mittelstedt

This months Next subject: LESSONS OF HAPPINESS……

You have probably heard about the power of positive thinking. But did you know that it applies to your health too? Studies show that being optimistic may improve your immune system and eve extend your life.

Here’s some example; Between 1962 and 1965, Mayo Clinic researchers asked 839 people to complete a personality; questionnaire. Thirty years late, those people in the original group who were identified as being highly pessimistic were much more likely to report poor physical or mental health or to have dies prematurely. The researchers concluded that having an optimistic outlook can improve one’s health.

To be more optimistic in your daily life, try these six strategies.

1. Be on the lookout for negative thoughts. When you catch yourself thinking your life is terrible, stop and thought in its tracks.

2. Put things in perspective. Remember, everyone’s life is full of sorrows and joys.

3. Try to find the good in bad situations. If you’ve suffered a setback at work, for example, look at what the situation tells you about yourself and learn from it. But don’t dwell on it.

4. Learn from your mistakes. Failure is one of the greatest learning tools, but many people let failure defeat them. Learn and try, try again.

5. Even if you’re feeling down, act as if your mood is good. Smile at others. Laugh. After a while, you may find that your mood really does improve.

6. Be grateful. Gratitude can help you focus on what’s right in your life.

Pay attention to how your view of life may be bringing you down. With practice, you’ll be able to replace your negative thoughts with more positive ones.

Source: Mayo Clinic health Information. July 2005 issue.
Compiled by: Sonia Reinhardt Mittelstedt

This months Next subject: ON YOUR MIND….

DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT.

What if the car breaks down? What if I say the wrong thing? What if I don’t get that promotion? Worrying can wear you out. Before you let everyday worries weigh you down, consider these questions.

What exactly am I worried about?
What am I predicting will happen?
How likely is it that this will happen?
How will things seem a few weeks or months from now?
What’s the worst possible outcome? Could I survive it?
If there anything I can do to prevent that outcome?

If the answer to the last question is no, your mission is to manage your worry;. Try these strategies.

• Create a diversion. Clean the basement. Go for a walk. Listen to your favorite CD. Work in the garden. Meditate or pray.
• Talk it out. Share your problems with a close friend who can help you gain perspective.
• Create a daily “worry time.” Maybe you will “worry” from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. If you start to fret about something at a different time, postpone it until the designated worry time.
• Adopt a physically active lifestyle. Exercise is a wonderful way to manage stress.

If none of these strategies seems to work and you find yourself increasingly anxious, you may have an anxiety disorder. Talk with your doctor or a licensed mental health care provide.

Source: Mayo clinic Health July 2005 issue.
Compiled by: Sonia Reinhardt Mittelstedt

This months Next subject: THE CHIROPRACTIC CONUNDRUM.

Arguments on the art of skeletal manipulation…..

Some people swear by chiropractors. Others lump them in with witch doctors, preferring to avoid a field with a reputation for “snap, crackle, and pop. In reality, chiropractic care is not nearly so violent. Chiropractors diagnose and treat lower-back pain by correcting soft-tissue irregularities, muscle imbalances, and skeletal misalignments. “Most people see a chiropractor before they see a physician, and that works for short-term pain relief,” says Physiatrist Venu Akuthota, M.D., the medical director of the University of Colorado’s Spine Center. “But with chronic conditions, chiropractors don’t always find the underlying cause.”

Andre Silano, a chiropractor in Tempe, Arizona, disagrees. Many of his clients come in for long-term treatment of acute and chronic spinal conditions. Silano is also one of a growing number of chiropractors who treat herniated disks with spinal decompression, a nonsurgical therapy that uses traction to relieve pressure on the disk, allowing the fluid to return and the healing process to begin. “Is like putting the jellly back in the doughnut.” Silano says.

Source: Best life, May 2006 issue.
Compiled by: Sonia Reinhardt Mittelstedt

This months Next subject: CLOSE THE DOOR ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE………..

Domestic violence is behavior someone uses to control a spouse, partner, date or elderly relative through fear and intimidation. In most cases men are the abusers. According to the National Domestic Violence Hot Line, abuse can show itself in the following ways:

Physical battering: The attacks can range from bruising to punching to life threatening chocking or use of weapons. A problem often begins with threats, name calling and/or harm to objects or pets.

Sexual abuse: A person in forced to have sexual intercourse with the abuser or take part in unwanted sexual activities.

Psychological battering: This can include constant verbal abuse, harassment, excessive possessiveness, withholding money, destruction of personal property, stalking and isolating the victim from friends and family. The person may accuse the victim of being stupid, ugly, unfaithful or having another fault.

CLUES TO VIOLENCE……

The following signs often appear before abuse occurs and can be a clue to a potential problem:

Violent family life. People who grow up in families in which they were abused as children, or in which one parent beat the other, learn that violence is normal behavior.

Use of force or violence to solve problems. A person who has a criminal record for violence, who gets into fights or who likes to act tough is likely to act the same way with his or her partner and children.

Alcohol or drug abuse.

Jealousy of friends and your family. The person keeps taps on you and wants to know where you are at all times.

Access to guns or other weapons. The person may threaten to use a weapon against you.

Expecting you to follow his or her orders or advise. The person becomes angry in you don’t fulfill his or her wishes. The person withholds money from you when you need it.

Extreme emotional highs and lows. The person can be extremely kind one day and extremely cruel the next.

You fear his or her anger. You change your behavior because you are afraid of the consequences of a fight.

Rough treatment. The person has used physical force trying to get you to do something you don’t want to do, or threatens you or your children.

SEEK SAFETY NOW……….

You don’t deserve to be abused. Prepare now to protect your health and safety.

Contact a women’s shelter for help with making your plans.

Pack an emergency “care package.” Include clothing, cash, a set of car keys, any daily medications and important papers, such as birth certificates. Have a trusted friend keep these items for you.

Know how to get out of your home in a hurry. Find a back door or window you can leave through.

Decide where to go in an emergency. Learn how to get there without a car. If you have children, make sure they know how to get there if you can’t be with them.

If you trust your neighbors, setup an emergency signal, such as a crooked window blind. Ask them to call the police if they see this sign.

Source: Vitality 2006
Compiled by: Sonia Reinhardt Mittelstedt

Second subject: News from California

Notes from Dorcas Preston, Ms. Senior America 2001, “National, and California Cameo Club President.”

I am so proud of our Club and all of the beautiful and talented ladies! I admire your willingness to participate whenever asked to do so and encourage you to keep it up. We have one of the largest Clubs in the Country and would like to see us become the largest. Let’s challenge ourselves to get more contestants and therefore more Cameo Club Members. Please do come to as many pageants that you can and encourage the ladies to join our club.

California has the largest pageant program in America. This is the result of the Sizzlin Seniors in Action performances throughout the state, and the media coverage we are receiving. This is a major marketing tool so Sizzlers “keep it up.” We are making a difference and “perking up” the spirits of all who enjoy our performances.

From California State Director Marilyn McCabe-Kohler…..

She has been a State Director for seven years and five years as a director of the Sizzlin’ Seniors in Motion. She treasures all the years that she have spent in these programs. She wishes to thank all of the elegant women who have shared the pageant spotlight and have sizzled on stages throughout California. As their program grows and becomes more involved, staying in contact with each of them individually, has been difficult. She wants you to know that she is here to assist you - just give her a call or e-mail. It is fun sharing the events in her life with all the Cameo Club members

Source: California SA News Letter
Compiled by: Sonia Reinhardt Mittelstedt

Third subject: Party at the Class Reunion

We are having a Huge Dinner Dance at the National Pageant this year.
Everyone is invited to attend
The day is Thursday November 9, the time is 6:30 PM.
There will be a D.J. playing what they call top 40 dance tunes.
There is an announcement on our home page with a link to the ticket order page.
Go get your tickets now.
The theme of this event is "Rock the World" and that is exactly what we are going to to.
"If you aint there, then you be square."

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